System and method for text entry with touch sensitive keypad

Abstract

A mobile handset having a keypad with keys having three states is provided. The handset includes a plurality of keys provided in a first state, the keys having alphanumeric character disposed thereon; a touch-sensitive component operable to detect a second state when one of the keys has been touched; a press detection component operable to detect a third state when one of the keys has been pressed; a display; and a graphical user interface (GUI) displayable on the display, such that when the keys are in the first state the GUI is accessible for text entry, and such that when one of the keys is in the second state the GUI displays all the alphanumeric characters associated with the one key in the second state, and such that when one of the keys is in the third state the GUI displays the alphanumeric character selected by pressing the one key.

1 . A mobile handset having a keypad with keys having three (3) states, the mobile handset comprising: 
 a plurality of keys provided in a first neutral state, the plurality of keys having alphanumeric character disposed thereon;    a touch-sensitive component operable to detect a second state when one of the plurality of keys has been touched;    a press detection component operable to detect a third state when one of the plurality of keys has been pressed;    a display; and    a graphical user interface (GUI) displayable on the display, such that when the plurality of keys are in the first neutral state the GUI is accessible for text entry, and such that when one of the keys is in the second state the GUI displays all the alphanumeric characters associated with the one key in the second state, and such that when one of the keys is in the third state the GUI displays the alphanumeric character selected by pressing the one key.    
   
   
       2 . The mobile handset of  claim 1 , wherein the GUI is operable when the one key is in the second state to highlight one of the displayed alphanumeric characters associated with the one key, and further operable when a user retouches the one key to scroll to highlight others of the displayed alphanumeric characters associated with the one key.  
   
   
       3 . The mobile handset of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of keys has only an associated number and no associated alphabetic characters.  
   
   
       4 . The mobile handset of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of keys has at least some associated non-alphanumeric characters useful for text messaging.  
   
   
       5 . The mobile handset of  claim 1 , wherein the mobile handset is one of a personal digital assistant, a mobile telephone, and a portable communication device.  
   
   
       6 . A method for text entry using a mobile handset, comprising: 
 detecting when a user contacts one of a plurality of keys of the mobile handset;    in response to detecting when the user contacts one of a plurality of keys, displaying alphanumeric characters associated with the key contacted by the user;    detecting when the user presses one of the plurality of keys of the mobile handset; and    in response to detecting when the user presses one of a plurality of keys, displaying the alphanumeric character selected by the user pressing the key.    
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein detecting the user contact and detecting the user pressing one of the plurality of keys is further defined as detecting the user's finger contacting and detecting the user' finger pressing one of the plurality of keys.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising: 
 the user contacting one of the plurality of keys in a non-pressing manner; and    the user pressing one of the plurality of keys in a manner as to exert force on one of the plurality of keys.    
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising: 
 providing in a list the alphanumeric characters associated with the key contacted by the user;    highlighting the first alphanumeric character in the list;    re-contacting the key to highlight the next alphanumeric character in the list; and    pressing the key to selected the highlighted character.    
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising: 
 highlighting and selecting text to assemble a text message;    selecting to transmit the text message to another user.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising displaying the alphanumeric characters associated with the key contacted by the user in a text box, and displaying the alphanumeric character selected by the user pressing the key in a text message window.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising: 
 the user determining the key contacted by the user by the user viewing a display of the mobile handset displaying the alphanumeric characters associated with the key contacted by the user.    
   
   
       13 . A handset operable for text entry, comprising: 
 a plurality of touch-sensitive keys;    a first component operable to detect when one of the plurality of touch-sensitive keys has been touched;    a second component operable to detect when one of the plurality of touch-sensitive keys has been pressed; and    a user interface operable when one of a plurality of keys has been touched to display alphanumeric characters associated with the touched key, the user interface further operable when one of the plurality of keys has been pressed to display the alphanumeric character selected by the user pressing the one of the plurality of keys.    
   
   
       14 . The handset of  claim 13 , wherein the first component is operable to detect when one of the plurality of keys has been contacted, and wherein the second component is operable to detect when force has been exerted on one of the plurality of keys.  
   
   
       15 . The handset of  claim 13 , wherein the first component is a capacitive printed circuit board (PCB) positioned adjacent a plurality of keys, the capacitive PCB operable to detect when one of the plurality of keys has been touched.  
   
   
       16 . The handset of  claim 15 , wherein the second component includes: 
 an actuator plate positioned adjacent the capacitive PCB; and    a contact printed circuit board (PCB) provided adjacent the actuator plate, such that the actuator plate in response to one or more of the plurality of keys being pressed engages the contact PCB.    
   
   
       17 . The handset of  claim 13 , wherein the user interface is operable to provide alphanumeric characters associated with the touched key in a list.  
   
   
       18 . The handset of  claim 17 , wherein the user interface is operable to highlight a first alphanumeric character in the list, and in response to a user touching the key again to highlight the next alphanumeric character in the list.  
   
   
       19 . The handset of  claim 18 , further comprising the user interface operable when one of the plurality of keys has been pressed to select the alphanumeric character highlighted in the list.  
   
   
       20 . The handset of  claim 18 , further comprising the user interface operable after a time-out period to select the alphanumeric character highlighted in the list.